Cotton cleaning machine



Nov. ll, 1941.

-J T. LAWRENCE COTTON .CLEANING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Shree?l 1 Filed" Ap'ril 11, 1940 Nov. 1l, 1941.

Jl T. LAwRENc E COTTON CLEANING MACHINE Filed April 1'1, 1940 y s sheets-snaai 2 Nov. 11, 1941. T, LAWRENCE 2,262,326

4 COTTON CLEANING Mpclmm l Filed April 11, 1940 s sheets-sheet s i j e@ if 1a# 551 /ff fa'rf Patented Novell, 1941 p 2,262,32e` p corren cmzmm'eicicnine John T. Lawrence, Inman",` S: gy j vAppieaticn April1i,`1940,seria1Nmazaist solaims.` (101.1194765- This invention relates toLan improved .coni struction ofma'chine adapted" to be attachedto the suction or inletend of a cotton gin or millfor cleaning the cotton beforeit isadmitted to the ginormill` p 9 j l More particularly,lit is an 4object of this in-` vention toiprovide al-,cottonscleaning machine through which cottonislconveyed by suction Y from a ginor mill to-which the vmachineis attached and having means for `breaking up the cotton bolls andllint for separating, the foreign matter therefrom includingtwo cleaning stages whereby fineparticles ,ofuforeign matter and larger particles of foreign matter may ber separately separatedfrom the cotton during the cleaning operationthereof.` j i l Still another aim of theinvention isto provide a machine so constructed that a portion of the cotton passing therethrough and from which the foreign matter has `beenremoved may bedrawn directly through a separate-conduit of the Ina-1A chine to the gin or cotton mill without being subjected to all of the cleaning operations provided in the machine.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a sieve of mesh wire fabric disposed adjacent a revolving beater and` so constructed' and re-` inforcedthat the screen will form `agcorrugated surface for co-acting vvth-ithelbeater in breaking. up the cotton bolls and lint toseparatethe foreign matter therefrom vand to;l also `act as a `sieve through which the fine particles of foreign matterV may pass and be thereby separated from the Still another aim of the invention is to provide an improved construction 4of conveyor belt forthe cotton and heavier particles of foreign matter having means for holding the foreign matter so that the cotton maybe readily re-` moved, separately, fromthefbelt.` t t p Other objects and advantages of; the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparentfrom` the following description ofthe drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodimentythereof, `and wherein:` t, i

Figure lis a chine, .i t p p j l p Figure 2 is an end view in elevation'of the same looking toward the outlet end thereof, p j 4 Figure 3 is alongitudinaLuverticalsectional vi-ew taken substantially alonglthe plane ofthe line33ofFigure2, f i Figure `l is a longitudinal, horizontal sectionalview taken substantially alongsthe plane of the line 4`4` of `Figure 3, s' j Figure 5 is a similar view taken'i 'substantially' along the plane of the line 5`5 of FigureB,

i Figure 6 is a transverse; verticalV sectional view* taken substantiallyf'alcng the plane of'theiline- 6- 6`of Figurel l f side elevational view of thema-- view takensubstantially along theplane of the g Figure 7 isa longitudinal, horizontal sectional line I-.l of Figure 3, and

p Figure 8 `is `a fragmentary; )side elevational `view,` partly in section`on an enlarged scale, of

a portionA of Vthe side of the machine seen in Figure'l. A j j i Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersgdesignate like or corresponding parts `throughout the different.I

views,V I0 designateslgenerally a cotton cleaning machine-*which includesa casing II having an inlet endor conduitIZ, andan `outlet end or conduit I3. Bars I4 are secured to the casing II, adjacent its ends, and are provided with spaced apertures bylmeans of` which the bars I4 vare adapted to be connected to a supporting frame or other means, not shown, for "mounting the machine I0.

connected vto oner another i by means of angle members `I'I which are carried bythe sections I5 and I6V `'and whichA are detachably securedtogether `by means of the nut and bolt fastenings I8. The upper section I5jis provided with the reinforced edges I9 and `with reinforcing bars 20, disposed on Opposite sides thereof. Y I g Referring particnlarly to Figure 3, the upper section I5 is providedk with aj horizontal longitudinally disposed partition` 2I 'which extends from, side to side thereof and from adjacent the inlet end I2 to adjacent the outlet end I3. The partition 2l' is` disposed substantially parallel to thek sloping top of the casing kI I to `form a passage 22( ardis provided, intermediate of its ends,y vvithanV opening 23 for connecting the passage 22 to the interior 'of' the casing I'I. A valve or damper 24 is slidably mounted on the parttionZ'l for closing 'the' opening `23and is provided with a rack bar 25 for meshing" with a pinionZS keyed to a shaft 2'I` which extends thrbughthe side walls of the casing IIfand' which ris journaled therein. Shaft 21 may be'revolved in any suitable manner, not shown, for closing or opening the valve or damper' 241 Between the inlet passage I2 and the adjacent end of' the'passage 22a mesh wirefabricdrum 28A` is'disposed. Drum 28 ismounted on a shaft 29 whichis journaled in `the sides o`f the casing' II' for rotatably rri'onnting"thev drum 28; The portion of the' Joop'o'f thecasingl I Idirec'tly above the drum 281s* bowed cutwardlyat 30`to accommodatel the drum. Asbest seen in Figure 3, the inlet passage' I2 is pivotally mounted so that it can be swung from a` horizontal position; as seenin full linesto a vertical position, as seen in dotted volvingbeate'r, designated generally'Sl is mount-y The casing I I` includes the top and bottom sections I5 andlwhichiarej detachably y ed in the section l5 beneath the drum 28 and includes a hub 32 which is keyed to a shaft 33 which is journaled in the sides of the casing I I. A plurality of spikes or tines 34 are secured in and extend radially from the hub 32 to complete the beater 3|. The length of the tines or spikes 34 are substantially the same so that their free ends are each disposed substantially the same distance from the shaft 33 and combine to form the periphery of the beater 3 A corrugated arcuately shaped plate 35 is secured at one end b y means of the fastenings 36 to an end wall of thevcasing The baille 35 is disposed adjacent a portion of the periphery of the beater 3| and its surface is serrated so that it forms a plurality o f undulations which extend transversely of the casing A shaft 3'| extends transversely through the casing for supporting a plurality of" slats 38, which are longitudinally disposed relatively to the casing inspaced apart relationship relatively to each other. The slats 38 have corresponding ends 39 which are bent to engage loosely around the shaft3'l. Slats 38 are connected to each other by means of a plurality of spaced transversely disposed slats 48 which are mounted on theh upper sides of the slats 38.z A strip of mesh wirey fabric 4| is disposed over the slats 38 and 48 and connected in any suitablefmanner, not shown, tothe slats 38 between the slats 48 to arrange the screen so that its surface of undulating formation Will be similar to the baille 35. As best seen in Figure 3, the opposite free end of the baille 35 rests on the end of the fabric 4| which is disposed over the ends 39 of the slats 38. Slats 38, slats 4|] and the screen fabric 4| combine to form a screen or sieve, designated generally 42 which forms a continuation of the baille 35 and which is pivotally mounted at one end by means of the shaft3l. A shaft 43 is connected to the opposite end of the screen or sieve 42 by means of the opposite ends 44 of the slats 38 which are looped around the shaft 43. A rack bar 45 is keyed to each end of the shaft 43 and dependsfdownwardly therefrom within and adjacenty the side Walls of the casing A shaft 46 extends transversely through the casing and is journaled therein. Pinions 41 are keyed to the shaft 46 within and adjacent the side walls of the casing to mesh with the rack bars 45 so that when the shaft 46 is turned, by any suitable means, not shown, the last `mentioned end of the screen or sieve 42 will be raised or lowered to cause the screen or sieve42 to swing on the shaft 37 as a pivot. The side walls of the casing are provided with stops 48 for engaging the ends of the shaft 43 to Vprevent the sieve 42 from being swung upwardly to a position where it will contact the periphery of the beater 3 A baille member 49 is mounted on the underside of the partition 2| and extends from side to side of the casing Baflie member 49 includes a curved hood p ortion 58 which is disposed concentric with a portion of the periphery of' the beater 3| and an upwardly bowed baille portion 5|, which extends from the lower end of the hood portion 58 upwardly and toward the opening 23. The baille member 49 andthe screen or sieve 42 combine to form an opening 52 therebetween, for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

The sides of the casing between sections |5 and |6 are provided with corresponding longitudinally extending openings 53 which extend from a point beneath, and adjacent the shaft 46,

to a point adjacent the outlet end I3 of the cas.

ing l. As best seen in Figure 6, the sections I5 and I6 are provided with outwardly projecting flanges 53 along the top and bottom edges of the openings 53 and which are adapted to receive the channel shaped frames 54 which are mounted therein with their sides in engagement with the flanges 53 and with their base portions 55 alined with the sides of the casing Frames 54 are secured in the openings 53 by means of the fastenings 56 which extend through the anges 53 and the sides of the channel members 54 to thereby detachably mount the frames in the casing Referring particularly to Figures l and 7, the frames 54 at their' ends, adjacent the shaft 46, are provided with perpendicular plates 57 in which are mounted follower screws 58 for engaging bearings 59 for urging the bearings toward the inlet end of the casing A shaft 60 has its ends journaled in the bearings' 59 and extends through slots 6| in the base portions 55, which are disposed longitudinally thereof, so that movement of the follower screws 58 will move the shaft 6|) longitudinally of the frames 54 and of the casing A shaft 62 extends transversely through the casing and through perpendicular slots 63 in the opposite ends of the frames 54. As best seen in Figure 8, the ends of the shaft 62 are journaled in bearing blocks 64 which are mounted to slide perpendicularly in the guide frames 65 which are disposed in the frames 54. Follower screws 66 having locking nuts 61 are mounted in threaded openings in the base portions of the guide frames 65, the bottom sides of the frames 54 and the lower flanges 53. The bearing blocks 64 may be raised and lowered by adjusting the follower screws 66 for raising and lowering the shaft 62, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

As best seen in Figures 3 and '7, an endless conveyor 68 is trained over the shafts 60 and 62. It will be obvious that the conveyor 68 may be tensioned by adjusting the shaft 60 by means of the follower screws 58 while one end thereof may be raised or lowered by adjusting the blocks 64,

'- asY heretofore described. The endless conveyor 68 includes a belt 69 which extends substantially the lwidth of the casing and which is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting tufts of bristles 10, which are disposed in spaced apart relationship relatively to each other to form longitudinal and transverse spaced rows of tufts in which the adjacent tufts are spaced from one another to provide a checkered formation, as best seen in Figure 4. The sides of the casing are provided with inwardly projecting guard flanges which extend along the edges of the conveyor 68 and which are disposed slightly thereabove, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

A shaft 12 extends transversely through the casing in the sides of which it is journaled, and is disposed above and substantially in a vertical plane with the shaft 62. A plurality of corresponding circular blades 13 are keyed to the shaft T2, within the casing in spaced apart relationship relatively to each other. Each ofthe circular blades '|3 is provided with teeth 'I4 at its periphery which teeth are each curved in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3. As best seen in Figure 5, the blades 'I3 are disposed to aline with the longitudinal spaces between the longitudinal rows of tufts '|0, and as best seen in Figure 3 a portion of the periphery of the blades '|3 coincide with a portion of the periph-- ery; of the `end-less conveyor 68, SulostantiallyA semi/Circular guard flangesl 15 extendinwardly'V fromthe sides of the casing II and are disposed adjacent to and coaxially with` the blades 13. The guard strips extend from above and adjacent theguard strips 1;Iupwardly andaround the portion of the blades 13` which` isl remote to theoutlet I3. I. I 1

)A shaft 1.8 extends transversely through and is` `journaled in the sides of the; casing II above the horizontal plane of the ,shaft 12` and be-V tween the shaft 12` andthe outlet passage` I3. A rotary brushr 111, comprising ayhub 18 and a plurality of radially projecting` rows of tufts `19, is keyed to the shaftl 16 and extends from side to side of they casing II. riphery of the rotary brush 1'1 is disposed tov contact a portion ofthe peripheriesof the blades 13', for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. `The brush11'is partially enclosed by means of: an` arcuatelygshaped `hood 80, which is securedxat its ends tothe sides of the casing I I andwhich is disposed concentric with the pe-` riphery of thebrush 11 to surround a substantial portion thereof,` leaving that `portion adjacent to the blades 13, exposed. A guard flange 8| is secured to the casing II and extends from side to sideA thereof and is disposed with its free edge adjacent tothe peripheries` of rthe blades 13 and beneaththe brush 11, for' a purpose. which will hereinafter become apparent.

The bottom section I'Iof the casing II is provided with `an outlet passage 82, adjacent the outletnend I3 of the casing |.I and with an inclined bottom portion 83 which slopes from the. opposite endrcf the casing I I downwardly to the passage 8.2 and whichA is disposed beneath the baffle 35, sieve, 42 and a portion of the endless conveyor 68. The outlet passage 82 is provided with an.` opening 84 in one side thereof` and adjacentits lower, open end. A valve 85 is pivotally mounted in the upper end of the opening 8,4 by means of a shaft 86, to which it is keyed, and which is` provided with an extension arm 81 which projects vat an obtuse angle to the valve 85, and. which forms arsupport for a weight 88 which` is. adjustably positionedthereon by-means of a setscrew 89 and whichV is adapted to `normally h old the valve85'in `a closedposition, as seenA in Figure 3.4 Valve 85 is adapted to swing into the opening 84., when moved to anopen position to` engage a. stop Y90j, secured to the outer side of thepassage 82 and which extends into the opening` 84; l As :best seen'in Figure 2, the valve 85 in its open, dotted line position, is disposed with its the shaft33 in a counterclockwise direction,` asviewedin Figure l. A sprocketwheel 93 is keyed to; the shaft 33; adjacent its4 opposite end and onr the opposite sideyof` the `casing I`I, and is connectedto aysprocketwheel 94 which is keyed to the same end of the shaft 29 by means of a chain 95 `for revolvingA the shaft 29` in the same direction as the shaft 3.3. A second sprocketwheel 96 isfkeyed to theshaft: 33fbeyondfthe sprocketwheel 8 3 which: is 1 connected to 1 a, sprocket; wheel' 91, on` thek corresponding end off the shaft 1 8, by.` means-l A portion of the pe-*f cfa. chain 98 for 'turning "the shaft 16 in the same, counterclockwise direction. A gear wheel 93 is; keyed to the shaft 16 beyond the sprocket wheel 91', as best seen in Figure 5, toY mesh with a gear wheel |00, keyed tothe shaft 12 for turning the shaft 12` in the opposite direction to the shaft 16, 0r in a clockwise direction. As best seen in Figures 1 and 2the sprocket wheel |0| is keyedto thev shaft 12 between the gear wheel IIJll and the casing Ill` and is connectedto a sprocket wheel|02 on the corresponding end of the shaft 62 by means of a chain I|J3`for turning theshaft 62: in a. clockwise directionv to cause the endless conveyor 6.81 to move in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3, with the shaft (i0` being driven thereby and operating as an idlerrshaft.

Assuming that` the outlet passage I3 is connected to the inlet or suction end of a cotton gin or cotton mill, `not shown, the suction from the gin Yor mill will create a suction Within the casing `II for drawing cotton into the casing through thel inlet.` lf2, which is adapted to be connected to a source of supply of cottonfor the gin or mill. Assuming the inlet passage |2 to be in` a horizontal position, as seen in full lines in Figure 3, the cotton drawn into 'the casing will come in contact with the periphery of the screen drum 28, which is turning in a counterclockwise direction, and will be directed downwardly thereby and into the beater 3|. The screen drum 28 `will prevent the cotton from entering the passage 22 without shutting off the suction therein. The lcotton will be directed centrifugally from the beater 3| against the serrated baille 35 which will cooperatewith the spikes or tines 34 to break up the cotton bolls and lint to separate the foreign matter therefrom. `The cotton and foreign matter vvill be carriedron by the beater 3| to the sieve or screen 42, where the corrugated surface thereofwill further cooperate with the tines 34 to continue to break up the` cotton bolls and cotton lint. The fine particles of foreign matter will sift through the sieve 42 onto the sloping bottom portion 83 from where it will be directed tothe outlet passage 82. The remainder of the cotton and foreign matter, not shown, will be carried on along the screen or sieve 42 and through the opening 52, beyond the free end thereof. Assuming thevalve 24 to be in an open position, the cotton which has been separated from the foreign matter, so that it is light and fluffy, will be drawn from the opening 52 upwardly into the passage 22 through its opening 23, by the suction therein, and will bedrawn dirrectly throughthe passage 22 and the outlet passage `I3. The remainder of the `cotton and the foreign matter, which is too heavy to be drawn upwardly by the suction in passage 22,4 will drop onto the endless conveyor 68 by means of which it. `will be carried toward the circular blades 13.` The formation of the tufts 10 will permit the foreign matter to drop into and become lodged between the spaces between the tufts 10, which spaces are suioient in size and depth to receive cotton burrs. The light and fluffy cotton, on the other hand, will be supported on top of the tufts of bristles'10to be thereby contacted by the teeth 14 which will pick up the cotton to thereby separate it from the foreign matter. The cottonwilll be carried by the blades 13, in a clockwise direction therearound to be engaged by thewiped off of the teeth 14 by the brush 11 from where it Will be drawn by suction into the outlet I3. Any cotton that might escape the brush 11 will be removed from the teeth 14 by means of the guard flange BI and thereafter be drawn into the outlet I3. The hood 80 will prevent the cotton from being carried around by the brush 11. The guard flanges 1I and 15 prevent the cotton and foreign matter from passing between the endless conveyor 68 and the battery of blades 13, respectively, and the sides of the casing I I downwardly to the bottom section I6.

One side of the casing II is preferably provided with a Window |84, as best seen in Figure 3, by means of which the operation of the machine I may be observed.

The foreign matter lodged in the spaces be tween the tufts 10 will move beneath the blades 13 and as the conveyor portion in which the foreign matter is carried passes around the shaft 62 the tufts 10 will be spread apart to allow the foreign matter to drop into the section I6 and the outlet passage 82. The weight 88 normally retains the valve 85 in a closed position, as seen in Figure 3 to maintain the suction Within the casing II, and as a result thereof the foreignI matter from the screen or sieve 42 and from the endless conveyor 68 will be lodged on the valve 85 from which it may be released by manually raising the arm 81. If desired, the valve 85 may be arranged to function automatically by adjusting or entirely removing the Weight 88 so that when the cotton gin or mill to which the machine I0 is connected is not in operation the weight of the valve 85 will cause it to swing to an open position into the opening 84 to release the foreign matter from the passage 82. When suction is again resumed in the casing II the valve 85 will be drawn back to a closed position thereby and it is for this reason that the opening 84 is of sufficient size to leave a space below the free edge of the valve 85 to insure that the valve 85 will be actuated by the suction and closed.

Obviously, the valve 24 may be adjusted to aplurality of positions to vary the suction in the opening 23. The shaft 46, as heretofore described, may be turned to move the screen or sieve 42 toward and away from the periphery of the beater 3|. By adjusting the set screws 58 shaft 68 is moved relatively to shaft 62 for varying the tension on the endless conveyor 68. By adjusting the follower screws 66 the shaft 62 can be moved toward and away from the blades 13 for adjusting one end of the conveyor 68 relatively thereto and for incidentally varying the tension of the conveyor.

By removing fastenings I8 and 56 the bottom section I6 can be detached from the top section I so that the parts Within the casing II can be repaired, adjusted or replaced. By removing the shaft 31 the screen or sieve 42 may be readily removed for repair or replacement, which will be occasionally required due to the wear on the screen fabric 4I. The baille 35 is preferably made of relatively thick sheet metal so that it will not require replacement and is therefore permanently secured to the casing by the fastenings 36. If desired, the endless conveyor 68, shafts 60 and 62 on which it is mounted, and the frames 54 may be removed from the casing I I without de-f taching the sections I5 and I6 by removing the fastenings 56 and the chain |03 after Which the aforementioned parts may be slid transversely out of the frame.

Various modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts forming the machine are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to as only a preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated and described.

I claim as my invention:

l. A cotton cleaning machine having an inlet at one end and an outlet at its opposite end, means for supplying suction to the outlet end for drawing cotton through the machine, a beater adjacent the inlet end for receiving the cotton, a screen disposed beneath the beater and onto which the cotton is directed for separating ne dirt particles from the cotton and through which the fine particles can pass to a waste outlet of the machine, conveying means disposed beneath and adjacent one end of the screen for receiving the cotton propelled over said end by the beater, and means for picking the cotton off of the conveying means for removing the cotton therefrom and for directing the cotton to said outlet, said screen being formed of mesh Wire fabric, longitudinal supporting slats disposed beneath said fabric, and transverse slats supported by said longitudinal slats and arranged in spaced apart relationship beneath the mesh wire fabric to provide an undulating or corrugated screen surface.

2. A cotton cleaning machine comprising a casing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at its opposite end, means for supplying suction to the outlet end for drawing cotton through'the machine, a beater adjacent the inlet end for receiving the cotton, a screen disposed beneath the beater and onto which the cotton is directed for separating ne dirt particles from the cotton and through Which the ne particles can pass to a waste outlet of the machine, conveying means disposed beneath and adjacent one end of the screen for receiving the cotton propelled over said end by the beater, and means for picking the cotton off of the conveying means for removing the cotton therefrom and for directing the cotton to said outlet, comprising a passage formed in the top of said casing and extending from adjacent the inlet end thereof to adjacent its outlet end, a screen drum mounted in the casing between its inlet end and the adjacent end of said passage to prevent the cotton from passing from said inlet end directly into the passage, said passage having an opening intermediate of its ends communicating with the main portion of the casing for receiving a portion of the cotton, directly from the beater for conveying said cotton directly to the outlet end of the casing.

3. A cotton cleaning machine comprising a casing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at its opposite end, means for supplying suction to the outlet end for drawing cotton through the machine, a beater adjacent the inlet and for receiving the cotton, a screen disposed beneath the beater and onto which the cotton is directed for separating fine dirt particles from the cotton and through which the line particles can pass to a waste outlet of the machine, conveying means disposed beneath and adjacent one end of the screen for receiving the cotton propelled over said end by the beater, and means for picking the cotton oft' of the conveying means for removing the cotton therefrom and for directing the cotton to said outlet, comprising a passage formed in th-e top of said casing and extending from adjacent the inlet end thereof to adjacent its outlet end, a screen drum mounted in the casing between its inlet end and the adjacent end of said passage to prevent the cotton from passing from said inlet end directly into the passage, said passage having an opening intermediate of its ends communicating with the main portion of the casing for receiving a portion of the cotton, directly from the beater for conveying said cotton directly to the outlet end of the casing, a closure for said opening, and rack and pinion means for adjustably positioning said closure.

4. A cotton cleaning machine having an inlet at one end for cotton to be cleaned, a beater adjacent said inlet endifor breaking up the cotton, a concave screen over which the cotton is propelled by said beater for separating the fine particles of dirt from the cotton, conveyor means for receiving the cotton and larger pieces of foreign matter, associated therewith, propelled off of an end `of the screen by the beater, means for removing the cotton from said conveyor, an outlet disposed adjacent said last mentioned means for receiving the cotton therefrom, the outlet end of said `casing being connected to the suction end of agin or cotton mill for creating a suction Within the casing, a passage extending through the upper portion of the casing from adjacent its inlet end to adjacent its outlet end, a mesh wire fabric screen covering the end of said passage disposed adjacent the inlet end of the casing to prevent the cotton from passing therethrough, and said passage having an opening intermediate of its ends communicating with the interior of said casing for receiving the lint cotton from the beater for conveying it directly to the outlet endof the casing.

` 5. A cotton cleaning machine having an inlet at one end for cotton to be cleaned, a beater adjacent said inlet end for breaking up the cotton, a concave screen over which the cotton is propelled by said beater for separating the fine particles of dirt from the cotton, conveyor means for receiving the cotton and larger vpieces of foreign matter, associated therewith, propelled off of an end of the screen by the beater, means for removing the cotton from said conveyor, an outlet disposed adjacent said last mentioned means for receiving the cotton therefrom, and a concavecorrugated baffle member disposed adjacent the periphery of the beater for receiving cotton, hurled centrifugally therefrom for breaking up the cotton to separate the foreign particles therefrom, said concave screen having one end connected to an end of said baille to receive the cotton and foreign` particlesv from the yballie whereby fine particles of foreign matter may pass through the screen and be separated from the cotton `and the larger particles of foreign matter.

6. A cotton cleaning machine comprising a casing having an inletat one end thereof and an outlet adjacent its opposite end for connecting with a cotton gin or cotton mill for creating a suction within the casing, a passage formed in the top of said casing and extending from adjacent its inlet endto adjacent its outlet end, a mesh wire fabric drum rotatably mounted in the casing between the inlet end and the adjacent end of said passage for preventing thecotton from passing from said inlet end into'the passage and for directing the cotton downwardly, a rotary beater disposed beneath the drum for receiving the cotton, an arcuately shaped corrugated bale mounted in said casing and disposed adjacent a portion of the periphery of the beater to receive the cotton directed centrifugally from the beater to cooperate therewith in breaking up the cotton, an arcuately shaped sieve member disposed adjacent a portion of the periphery of the beater to form a continuation of said bale for separating the ne particles of foreign matter from the cotton in pas-sing thereover, an opening in said passage, communicating with the lower portion of the casing and disposed adjacent the beater to receive cotton, separated from the foreign matter for conveying it directly to the casing outlet, conveyor means disposed beneath one end of said sieve for receiving and conveying the cotton containing larger particles of foreign matter, and means for removing the cotton from the conveyor for separating it from the foreign particles carried thereby for directing the cotton to the casing outlet.

7. A machine as in claim 6, comprising an outlet in the bottom of said casing for receiving the foreign matter from the sieve and conveyor for discharging it from the casing, and a normally closed valve for closing said outlet for maintaining the suction in the casing. o

8. A cotton cleaning machine comprising a casing through which cotton is adapted to be conveyed by suction, a beater to receive the cotton entering the casing, a screen over which the cotton is propelled by the beater for agitating the cotton to separate the fine particles of foreign matter therefrom so that the foreign matter can be separated from the cotton by passing through the screen, said screen extending from one end of the casing to a point intermediate of its ends, a passage having an inlet above and adjacent the last mentioned free end ofthe screen for receiving the light, clean cotton therefrom and for conveying it directly to the casings outlet, an endless conveyor, extending from beneath the free end of the screen to the opposite end of the casing, for receiving the larger particles of foreign matter and the cotton attached thereto, said endless conveyor having means for separating the foreign matter from the cotton, and means for removing the cotton from the conveyor and yfor directing it toward the outlet of the casing.v o o 9. A cotton cleaning machine having an inlet at one end and an outlet at its opposite end, means for supplying suction to the outlet end for drawing cotton through the machine, a beater adjacent the inlet end for receiving the cotton, a screen disposed beneath the beater and onto which the cotton is directed for separating Iinedirt particles from the cotton and through which the fine particles can pass to a waste outlet of the machine, said screen being secured to the inlet end of the machine and having a free end disposed intermediate `of the inlet and outlet ends of the machine, conveying means extending from adjacent the outlet end of the machine to the free end ofthe screen for receiving the cotton propelled over said free end by the beater, and means for picking the cotton off of the conveying means for removing the cotton therefrom and for directing the cotton to said outlet, said machine having a clear unobstructed passage between the free end of the screen and said last mentioned means, said conveyor means comprising an endless belt provided with outwardly projecting tufts arranged in longitudinal and transverse spaced rows.

JOI-IN T. LAWRENCE. 

